UBC’s National Centre for Business Law hosted a Downtown Speaker Series in Vancouver with Anthony VanDuzer, Professor of Law, University of Ottawa on Monday, April 16, 2012. Professor VanDuzer gave a very interesting talk on The Canada-EU Negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Redefining the Role of the Provinces in the Negotiation and Implementation of International Trade Commitments. He focussed on the expanded role of the Provinces at the negotiating table and the crucial aspect of compliance by the Provinces once the Agreement goes into effect. Previous attempts to forge a trade agreement between the EU and Canada foundered due to the EU’s belief that a treaty would be unenforceable without Provincial engagement and commitment.

Professor VanDuzer was kind enough to give us permission to post his presentation here.

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A History of Economic Cooperation

Canada and the EU have a long history of economic cooperation. Composed of 27 Member States with a total population of over 500 million and a GDP of nearly $16.8 trillion in 2010, the EU is the world’s largest single common market, foreign investor and trader. As an integrated block, the EU represents Canada's second largest trading partner in goods and services. In 2010, Canadian goods and services exports to the EU totalled $49.1 billion, and imports from the EU amounted to $55.2 billion.